Housing

Condominiums

The Condominium Property Act and regulation affect condominium owners, buyers, sellers and developers. These publications provide an overview of the key topics that you need to be aware of when buying and owning a condominium. They do not cover all the special circumstances or unique situations that can arise.

Home ownership

Before buying, you should know what condition the home is in and what repairs might be needed. Hiring a qualified home inspector to examine a home can help you to make an informed decision about its condition. Some homeowners also have their place inspected so they can get any defects fixed under their new home warranty before it runs out.

This publication provides information about home renovation contracts in general as well as specific information about working with prepaid contractors. Before you hire a contractor to do renovations or repairs to your home, do your homework.

Credit and money

Collection agencies collect unpaid debts or locate debtors for others. Debt repayment agencies charge a fee to negotiate payment arrangements for people who owe money. The Consumer Protection Act and the Collection andDebt Repayment Practices Regulation identify the rules these businesses and the people working for them must follow.

Gift cards purchased in Alberta are no longer subject to expiry dates and fees that lower their value over time. Refer to the Gift Card Regulation, part of the Consumer Protection Act. The regulation also includes other rules to improve consumer protection, use of the cards and disclosure of terms and conditions.

What is a payday loan? A payday loan is a loan of $1,500 or less. The term of the loan cannot exceed 62 days. The maximum fee a payday lender can charge is $15 per $100. This includes all mandatory fees and charges related to the loan.

When you use credit to make purchases or pay for services and fail to make payments your creditors may take legal actions to recover the money owed. Common types of credit are bank loans, bank account overdrafts, lines of credit, credit cards, finance agreements, student loans, payday loans, etc.

This publication describes the legal action a creditor may take if you do not pay your debts.

Credit reporting agencies must make sure the information in your file is correct and based on the most reliable evidence available. The Consumer Protection Act and the Credit and Personal Reports Regulation identify what can be included in and released from your credit file.

High Cost of Credit (HCC) is getting a loan for more than it costs at a bank. It can be at a business or on the internet. Payday loans are not high-cost credit. There are consumer protections when getting HCC.

Identity theft and fraud

When someone uses personal information such as your name, social insurance number (SIN), credit card number or other identifying information without your knowledge or permission, it is identity theft and it is a crime.

Protect yourself from being an unwilling participant in mortgage fraud! Do your homework. If you are going to invest in real estate, make sure you are using a licensed mortgage broker who is registered under the Real Estate Act in Alberta.

Door-to-door salespeople sell everything from encyclopedias and magazines to home improvements. If a contract is signed, negotiated or concluded away from the seller’s usual place of business, it is considered a direct sale.

Energy related salespeople are misrepresenting themselves as Government of Alberta inspectors to Alberta homeowners and renters. They are asking to inspect the home's HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems. Effective January 1, 2017, the Government of Alberta has banned direct sales (door-to-door) of furnaces and related products and services including water heaters, air conditioners, windows, energy contracts and energy audits.

The Time Share Contracts Regulation under the Consumer Protection Act has been expanded to include the sale of points-based time share contracts. The name has been changed to the Time Share and Points-based Contracts and Business Regulation.

Services

There are many types of dating or matchmaking services. Although no specific requirements under Alberta’s Consumer Protection Act for licensing exists, the act provides protection against unfair business practices. As with all service agreements, it’s important to read carefully before signing a contract or making a payment. Read and follow the tips to ensure a positive experience.

Utilities

In Alberta, you have options for how you buy natural gas and electricity for your home, farm or small business. You can sign a contract with an independent electricity and natural gas marketer or you can choose not to sign a contract and receive energy at a regulated rate. This publication outlines the rules that electricity and natural gas marketers must follow under the Consumer Protection Act and the Energy Marketing and Residential Heat Sub-metering Regulation. It also provides information about your rights and responsibilities as a consumer.

Internet use and services

The Internet is widely used by Albertans for many purposes. Although educational and entertaining, it can also expose users to scams and other fraudulent activities. This publication outlines how to keep you and your online activities out of harm’s way.

Shopping on the Internet is different from shopping at your local mall. The Internet Sales Contract Regulation applies to residents of Alberta or to people purchasing goods or services from Alberta businesses that sell online. Only goods or services that are bought or sold for personal, family or household use and have a value of more than $50 are affected by this regulation.

Landlord and tenant

In Alberta, the Residential Tenancies Act applies to most people who rent the place where they live. This law sets out the rights and responsibilities that apply to landlords. For your convenience, This publication contains former tips in a one-stop location:

In Alberta, the Residential Tenancies Act applies to most people who rent the place where they live. This law sets out the rights and responsibilities that apply to tenants. For your convenience, this publication contains former tips in a one-stop location:

The RTA Handbook and Quick Reference Guide are designed to explain the rights and responsibilities all tenants, landlords, and agents involved in renting residential premises in Alberta have under the Residential Tenancies Act and regulations.

Some landlords are changing the way they charge tenants for natural gas and electricity. Landlords are using a new tool that measures the energy used by each rental unit. This tool is called a sub-meter. This publication includes information about sub-meters and how they may impact tenants. It also answers questions about tenants’ rights and responsibilities.

In Alberta, the Mobile Home Sites Tenancies Act applies to people who own a mobile home and rent the mobile home site from a landlord. This law sets out the rights and responsibilities that apply to these tenancies.

Businesses

This publication outlines the rules and regulations that must be followed by Alberta businesses that sell goods by public auction. Such sales are governed by the Consumer Protection Act, the Public Auctions Regulation and the Sale of Goods Act.

Auction sales businesses (auction businesses) have certain responsibilities under Alberta’s Consumer Protection Act and Public Auctions Regulation. The business, consigners and buyers of goods could all be affected if a business has not acted according to the legislation.

This document is intended to provide general information for condominium developers. It addresses changes being brought by the Condominium Property Act and supporting regulations to developers in how they handle purchase agreements, trust funds, the appointment of an interim board of directors, and the turn-over of the corporation and specified documents to an elected board.

An employment agency helps an employer find employees or helps employees find work or evaluates or tests people for employers seeking employees. Changes to the Employment Agency Business Licensing Regulation came into effect September 1, 2012.

A franchise is a business arrangement. A franchisee (buyer of a franchise) buys the right to market particular products and services from a franchisor (seller of a franchise). The franchisee buys those rights for a specific period of time in a particular location.

Charities

Do you ask Albertans to donate to fundraising campaigns? Do you solicit contributions that will be used for a charitable purpose? If you do, you must follow the rules that are set out in Alberta’s Charitable Fund-raising Act and regulation. These rules exist to protect potential donors from false and misleading requests for donations.